Herefordshire businesses urged to fly the flag for enterprise by entering awards

Enterprising and innovative businesses across Herefordshire are being urged to beat the September 9 deadline to apply for one of the country’s most prestigious honours – the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership – the private sector-led body responsible for driving growth in the region – says the awards offer a high-profile way for companies to showcase their success.

The awards are designed to mark and encourage outstanding achievements in the fields of international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity (through social mobility).

This year Herefordshire company Safelane Global was given the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its specialist work around the world helping to reduce the threat from explosives. The Ross on Wye company joined a prestigious list of winners from around the country.

The winners are invited to a Royal reception at Buckingham Palace and are entitled to fly the Queen's Award flag at their main office and use the emblem on their products and marketing materials for five years.

Herefordshire’s Lord Lieutenant, who is the Queen’s Representative in the county, will also present the businesses with a crystal trophy. 

Chair of the Marches LEP Mandy Thorn MBE, DL said: “As the Queen’s Award is judged solely on merit, it is open to a wide variety of enterprises with winners varying from large international companies to small businesses with just a handful of employees. These honours are a real chance for all our companies to shout about their success.

“The deadline is now fast approaching to get your entries submitted and we would urge any company which is eligible to get their application in as soon as possible.”

To be eligible for a Queen’s Award, a company must be based in the UK, have at least two full time UK employees or part-time equivalents, file its company tax returns with HMRC, be a self-contained enterprise that markets its own products or services under its own management and demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility.

To enter go to www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise